Flame Valley was a place steeped in mystery and danger, surrounded year-round by raging flames that seemed never to die. These were no ordinary flames, but fire imbued with the most violent fire element power in all heaven and earth.
The deeper one ventured into the valley, the hotter the flames became, until they could burn through a cultivator's protective treasures and divine power. Even powerful cultivators who boasted of their profound cultivation dared not venture lightly to the valley floor.
In the deepest reaches of Flame Valley, the heat rose to unimaginable heights. Even a mighty cultivator who stepped inside might be refined alive and reduced to ash.
A pillar of light descended upon the teleportation array outside Flame Valley, unleashing a torrent of energy. The instant the light dispersed, Shi Yi beat his lightning wings and sped away. Many cultivators came to Flame Valley to forge weapons with its flames, so there were too many eyes around. If someone discovered him, with the Heavenly Wing Race so close by, a battle might well break out, ruining his plans to find the Sun Flower.
Relying on his powerful divine sense, Shi Yi avoided encounters with numerous cultivators as he flew toward the depths of Flame Valley.
"The flames here are already extremely hot. Even my divine sense is starting to be affected, so I can't probe as freely as I could outside. Fortunately, my Double Pupils aren't restricted here, but the road ahead will only grow harder," Shi Yi muttered. By now, he had slipped soundlessly deep into Flame Valley. Most of the cultivators on the outskirts were relatively weak, making it easy for him to evade them without causing much of a stir. The deeper he went, however, the stronger the cultivators lingering there became, and the greater the risk of discovery.
Just as Shi Yi was about to venture farther in, he suddenly flashed behind a massive boulder. Several Array Formation cultivators soon approached together.
"Do you think that news is true?" one cultivator asked. "You mean the Heavenly Wing Race finding a Sun Flower in Flame Valley?" a plant cultivator asked in return. "Yes. I heard they intend to have a Venerable enter the depths of Flame Valley and consume the Sun Flower, using the valley's unique environment to ignite his own divine fire," another of their companions said, sharing what he had heard. "Doesn't that mean the Heavenly Wing Race will gain another Divine Fire Realm expert and leave all the other races behind again?" the first cultivator asked. "Ah, there's nothing we can do. Only the Heavenly Wing Race can ignite divine fire this way. Still, the Sun Flower itself is already sacred medicine. Although the other races can't use it to ignite divine fire, it's still a rare spiritual treasure of heaven and earth. I imagine there'll be quite a clash of dragons and tigers when the time comes," a ratlike cultivator said. "Speaking of that, I have another piece of news that smells of a storm gathering over the mountains. Long ago, word spread that the Heavenly Wing Race's True One Realm expert suffered a severe Dao injury during a breakthrough. Even after a long period of recuperation, he never recovered. He didn't even appear at the last banquet. Recently, some people have been guessing that the lord won't be able to hold on much longer," another cultivator whispered, lowering his voice. "Is that true? This is no joking matter," the plant cultivator asked in astonishment. "I don't know whether the news is accurate. Supposedly, many races intend to use this opportunity to test the Heavenly Wing Race's reaction and see whether the rumors are true," the ratlike cultivator continued. "Shh, keep quiet. There are plenty of Heavenly Wing Race cultivators here. If they hear us saying these things, we'll have a bitter taste of the consequences," said the cultivator who had remained silent until then. Everyone glanced around, then let out a long breath after confirming that no cultivators from other races were nearby. Had anyone from the Heavenly Wing Race overheard them, they might have been killed on the spot at best, or brought disaster upon their entire races at worst.
Only after the group left did Shi Yi emerge from behind the boulder. "Heh, I seem to smell a conspiracy. Still, none of that has anything to do with me. All I need is the Sun Flower. If you Heavenly Wing Race people had already picked it, that would be one thing. But since you've left it unpicked, whatever your reasons, it remains unclaimed. Spiritual treasures of heaven and earth belong to whoever has the fortune to obtain them."
Since the Heavenly Wing Race had widely publicized the Sun Flower's appearance, Shi Yi concealed himself and followed the others. At last, he laid eyes on the Sun Flower he had been longing for.
The Sun Flower was a wondrous plant of legend, said to grow by absorbing the utmost yang power of heaven and earth. Thus, it often appeared in environments of extreme heat, such as volcanic craters, the Lava Zone, or scorching deserts. Its petals were a blazing orange-red, as though they held the energy of the sun, and radiated a warm glow.
Its growing conditions were exceptionally demanding, and it could survive only where utmost yang power was abundant. Its roots could reach deep into lava or burning soil, absorbing the energy within and converting it into nourishment.
Though the treasure was right before his eyes, Shi Yi dared not act rashly. Powerful cultivators from many races had gathered here. There were at least a dozen Venerables in plain sight, and who knew how many more were concealed in the shadows? For something this important, Divine Fire Realm experts were surely present as well; he simply did not know where they were.
The various sides maintained a delicate balance. Anyone who dared make a rash move would become the target of every arrow and would be hard-pressed to meet a good end. Shi Yi's identity made matters even worse: the moment he appeared, every faction would turn its attention to him.
"Neither side has finished laying its plans. It looks as though this standoff will last a while longer. I might as well use Flame Valley's environment to comprehend the Fire Great Dao Laws in the meantime. But I'll need somewhere safe, where I can also keep an eye on the Sun Flower at any moment. If someone beats me to it, I won't even have anywhere to cry," Shi Yi said. He quietly withdrew some distance, found a safe place, and began cultivating. Indeed, his Double Pupils could see through to the essence of all things, while the Heaven-Refining Grand Array made it easier to attune to the Dao laws between heaven and earth. Together, they ensured that every attempt at comprehension brought him gratifying rewards.
In this unique environment, Shi Yi entered a state of Dao enlightenment after only a single day. He sat cross-legged in a quiet mountain valley, with Fire Great Dao Laws manifesting around him. Blazing patterns of flame covered the ground beneath him, as though the earth itself were responding to his cultivation.
He drew the surrounding energies toward himself, forming flames that danced around him and wove into profound runes. Scorching heat filled the air, as though even space were distorted by the flames' power. With his eyes closed and his mind focused, he merged his consciousness with the flames, comprehending the purest Great Dao of fire between heaven and earth.
Over the following days, more and more flames gathered, and the temperature throughout his place of enlightenment rose tremendously. Yet the heat seemed to have no effect on Shi Yi whatsoever. It was as though he were a god amid the flames, and they were cheering for him.
At this time, Shi Yi began his comprehension some distance away.
More than half a month had passed since he began comprehending the Fire Great Dao Laws. He still sat there cross-legged without moving, while the temperature within that space grew even more terrifying.
"Huh? This place is strange. With such a dense aura of flame, could someone be cultivating a fire-path Treasure Art here? Or could some other spiritual treasure be growing here besides the Sun Flower? Should I take a look?
"No, if I run into some ill-tempered old monster, I might be in danger. But if it really is a treasure, wouldn't I be letting it slip through my fingers and regretting it for the rest of my life?"
Not far from Shi Yi, an Array Formation cultivator of the Explosive Fire Mastiff Race paced back and forth, his face full of indecision. His race resembled mastiffs, with sharp claws and fiery-red flames burning around the ankles of all four limbs. They possessed an innate command of fire and were experts in the path of flame among the many races of the Cave-Dwelling World. However, their Divine Fire Realm expert had died, and no successor had emerged over the years. They were now dependent on the Heavenly Wing Race.
At last, he stamped a foot and hardened his heart, as though coming to a decision. "To hell with it. Our race has been battered by wind and rain all these years. If we shrink back like this even when a treasure appears, we'll never escape the Heavenly Wing Race's control. Just look at this time: our race's Venerables were all summoned by the Heavenly Wing Race to serve as cannon fodder."
Though he had decided to take a look, he remained extremely cautious as he approached Shi Yi's location.
As he neared the cave entrance, he released his divine sense so that he could flee at any moment if danger arose.
"Strange. So much fiery energy has gathered here, yet why can't my divine sense detect anything?" the Explosive Fire Mastiff cultivator said. Since he had already decided to come, there was no point in regretting it. In a flash, he entered the cave where Shi Yi was staying-and was utterly dumbfounded.
"Hahaha, a human! I never imagined such good fortune would fall into my lap. The Heavenly Wing Race just issued a bounty for locating humans, and here you are, delivering yourself right to my door. You even dare comprehend the Great Dao in an environment like this. You really don't know how the word 'death' is written.
"Fortunately, my race is naturally sensitive to the Great Dao of fire. Anyone from another race might have been fooled by the array you set up outside. Even heaven is helping me!" After a moment of stunned silence, the Explosive Fire Mastiff shouted excitedly. Unable to wait, he lunged toward Shi Yi, only to be stopped by an invisible wall a short distance away.
"Another array blocking my way? But the arrays you humans use are so crude. Watch me break yours, capture you alive, and see the despair on your face."
A day later, the Explosive Fire Mastiff paced back and forth, studying the array before him as he scratched his ears and head. "Damn it. I actually can't see through this human's array. But it doesn't matter. I'll report his presence to the Heavenly Wing Race and let them break it themselves."
Just as the Explosive Fire Mastiff turned toward the cave entrance, a voice came from behind him. "Where are you going?"
Startled, the Explosive Fire Mastiff spun around. Shi Yi had already awakened and was standing before him. The Explosive Fire Mastiff was just about to open his mouth and threaten him.
Squelch. A headless Explosive Fire Mastiff corpse toppled sideways onto the ground.